Regulating pressure to lower temperature in a cryotherapy balloon catheter

ABSTRACT

A cryotherapy catheter can include an elongate member and an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the elongate member, the elongate member having lumens formed therein to supply cryogenic fluid to a chamber of the balloon and to channel exhaust from the balloon chamber; and a controller programmed to control a first rate at which the cryogenic fluid is supplied to the balloon chamber and a second rate at which exhaust is channeled from the balloon chamber, wherein the controller is programmed to a) develop, during a first phase of a cryotherapy procedure, a first pressure inside the balloon chamber at a value that is greater than an ambient pressure outside and adjacent to a proximal end of the elongate member, and b) develop, during a second phase of the cryotherapy procedure, the first pressure at a value that is less than the ambient pressure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/090,985, filed on Aug. 22,2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

A number of serious medical conditions may be treated in a minimallyinvasive manner with various kinds of catheters designed to reachtreatment sites internal to a patient's body. One such medical conditionis atrial fibrillation—a condition that results from abnormal electricalactivity within the heart. This abnormal electrical activity mayoriginate from various focal centers of the heart and generallydecreases the efficiency with which the heart pumps blood. It isbelieved that some of these focal centers reside in the pulmonary veinsof the left atrium. It is further believed that atrial fibrillation canbe reduced or controlled by structurally altering or ablating the tissueat or near the focal centers of the abnormal electrical activity.

One method of ablating tissue of the heart and pulmonary veins to treatatrial fibrillation is cryotherapy—the extreme cooling of body tissue.Cryotherapy may be delivered to appropriate treatment sites inside apatient's heart and circulatory system by a cryotherapy catheter. Acryotherapy catheter generally includes a treatment member at its distalend, such as an expandable balloon having a cooling chamber inside. Acryogenic fluid may be provided by a source external to the patient atthe proximal end of the cryotherapy catheter and delivered distallythrough a lumen to the cooling chamber where it is released. Release ofthe cryogenic fluid into the chamber cools the chamber (e.g., throughthe Joule-Thomson effect), and correspondingly, the balloon's outersurface, which is in contact with tissue that is to be ablated. Gasresulting from release of the cryogenic fluid may be exhaustedproximally through an exhaust lumen to a reservoir or pump external tothe patient.

SUMMARY

In a cryotherapy balloon catheter in which cryogenic fluid is deliveredto and released in a balloon portion, where it undergoes a phase changethat cools the balloon portion by the Joule-Thomson effect, pressureinside the balloon can affect the boiling point of the cryogenic fluid,and thus the temperature to which the balloon portion can be cooled. Insome implementations, lowering the pressure inside the balloon portionresults in a lower temperature, which can accelerate a cryotherapyprocedure. Some cryotherapy procedures include two phases: an initialtreatment phase during which the cryotherapy balloon is inflated againstbody tissue that is to be treated (e.g., the ostium of a pulmonary vein)and cooled enough to cause its surface to be frozen to the body tissue;and a second treatment phase during which the pressure can be loweredinside the balloon, resulting in a lower surface temperature of theballoon, which may accelerate the cryotherapy procedure.

In some implementations, a method of performing a cryotherapy procedurecan include introducing a cryotherapy balloon catheter at a treatmentsite inside a patient's body; regulating, during a first phase of acryotherapy procedure, flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from adistal balloon portion of the cryotherapy balloon catheter to cause a) afirst pressure to be reached inside the distal balloon portion that issufficiently high to cause an outer wall of the distal balloon portionto be pressed against body tissue at the treatment site, and b) a firsttemperature to be reached inside the distal balloon portion that issufficiently low to cause the body tissue to freeze to the outer wall;and regulating, during a second phase of the cryotherapy procedure, flowof cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from the distal balloon portion toreduce pressure inside the distal balloon portion to a second pressurethat is less than the first pressure, causing a temperature inside thedistal portion to reach a second temperature that is below the firsttemperature.

The cryotherapy balloon catheter can be configured to enableJoule-Thomson cooling inside the distal balloon portion when cryogenicfluid is delivered to the distal balloon portion and resulting gas isexhausted from the distal balloon portion. In some implementations, thefirst temperature can be less than 0° C. In some implementations, thesecond temperature can be between −89° C. and −91° C. Regulating theflow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from the distal balloon portioncan include regulating the flows such that heat is extracted from thebody tissue at a greater rate during the second phase than a rate atwhich heat is extracted from the body tissue during the first phase.

In some implementations, the first pressure is approximately five poundsper square inch (PSI) above ambient pressure. In some implementations,the first pressure is approximately 5-25 PSI above ambient pressure.Ambient pressure may be characterized by atmospheric air pressureadjacent to the patient's body. The second pressure can be approximatelyequal to ambient pressure. The second pressure can be negative relativeto ambient pressure. The second pressure can be maintained at a valuethat is sufficient to prevent the outer wall from being peeled away fromthe body tissue by vacuum forces inside the distal balloon portion or byelastic forces of material that makes up the distal balloon portion. Themethod can further include inflating the distal balloon portion.

The method can further include regulating, after the second phase, theflow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from the distal balloon portionsuch that minimal heat is extracted from the body tissue, allowing thebody tissue to warm up. The method can further include deflating thedistal balloon portion, introducing the cryotherapy balloon catheter toa second treatment site, and regulating the flow of cryogenic fluid toand exhaust from the distal balloon portion to repeat the first andsecond phases of the cryotherapy procedure at the second treatment site.Regulating flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from the distalballoon portion can include regulating flow of liquid nitrous oxide tothe distal balloon portion and flow of gaseous nitrous oxide from thedistal balloon portion.

In some implementations, a cryotherapy catheter includes an elongatemember and an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the elongate member,the elongate member having lumens formed therein to supply cryogenicfluid to a chamber of the balloon and to channel exhaust from theballoon chamber; and a controller programmed to control a first rate atwhich the cryogenic fluid is supplied to the balloon chamber and asecond rate at which exhaust is channeled from the balloon chamber,wherein the controller is programmed to a) develop, during a first phaseof a cryotherapy procedure, a first pressure inside the balloon chamberat a value that is greater than a second pressure outside and adjacentto a proximal end of the elongate member, and b) develop, during asecond phase of the cryotherapy procedure, the first pressure at a valuethat is less than the second pressure. The second pressure can be anambient pressure, wherein the ambient pressure can be characterized asatmospheric air pressure adjacent to the patient's body.

In some implementations, the controller is programmed to supplycryogenic fluid to the balloon chamber such that the cryogenic fluidboils at a first temperature in an environment of the first pressure,and boils at a second temperature, which is lower than the firsttemperature, at pressures that are less than the second pressure.

In some implementations, a cryotherapy catheter includes an elongatemember and an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the elongate member,the elongate member having lumens formed therein to supply cryogenicfluid to a chamber of the balloon and to channel exhaust from theballoon chamber; and a controller programmed to control a first rate atwhich the cryogenic fluid is supplied to the balloon chamber and asecond rate at which exhaust is channeled from the balloon chamber,wherein the controller is programmed to a) develop, during a first phaseof a cryotherapy procedure, a first pressure inside the balloon chamberat a value that is greater than an ambient pressure outside and adjacentto a proximal end of the elongate member, and b) develop, during asecond phase of the cryotherapy procedure, a second pressure inside theballoon chamber at a value that is less than the first pressure. Theinflatable balloon can be configured to be disposed inside a lumen orbody cavity of a human patient to deliver cryotherapy to tissue of thelumen or body cavity.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description anddrawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate details of an example cryotherapy ballooncatheter that can be used to deliver cryotherapy to body tissue in firstand second treatment phases, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating example relationships between pressureand boiling point of a cryogenic fluid that can be used with thecryotherapy balloon catheter shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 3 illustrates the cryotherapy balloon of FIGS. 1A and 1B positionedadjacent to body tissue that is to be treated.

FIGS. 4A-4I illustrate example thermal profiles of the body tissue shownin FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bar graph depicting times that may be necessary for the bodytissue shown in FIG. 3 to be ablated to a predetermined depth.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of treating bodytissue with the cryotherapy balloon catheter of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIGS. 7 and 8A-8C illustrate additional details of the cryotherapyballoon catheter of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of controllingpressure and temperature in the cryotherapy balloon catheter of FIGS. 1Aand 1B.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a cryotherapy balloon catheter in which cryogenic fluid is deliveredto and released in a balloon portion, where it undergoes a phase changethat cools the balloon portion by the Joule-Thomson effect, pressureinside the balloon can affect the boiling point of the cryogenic fluid,and thus the temperature to which the balloon portion can be cooled. Insome implementations, lowering the pressure inside the balloon portionresults in a lower temperature, which can accelerate a cryotherapyprocedure. Some cryotherapy procedures include two phases: an initialtreatment phase during which the cryotherapy balloon is inflated againstbody tissue that is to be treated (e.g., the ostium of a pulmonary vein)and cooled enough to cause its surface to be frozen to the body tissue;and a second treatment phase during which the pressure can be loweredinside the balloon, resulting in a lower surface temperature of theballoon, which may accelerate the cryotherapy procedure.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate example details of a cryotherapy ballooncatheter 100 that can be used to deliver cryotherapy, and FIGS. 1A and1B further depict an example first treatment phase (FIG. 1A) and secondtreatment phase (FIG. 1B) during which cryotherapy can be provided tobody tissue. Additional details of an example cryotherapy ballooncatheter are described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8A-8C.

The cryotherapy balloon catheter 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B has a distalcryotherapy balloon 103 that can be inserted into a body lumen of apatient, such as, for example, a blood vessel or other internal bodystructure. More particularly, for example, the distal cryotherapyballoon 103 can be inserted (in a deflated state), through appropriateblood vessels, into a patient's heart, and specifically into thepatient's left atrium. Once in the patient's left atrium, thecryotherapy balloon can be employed to ablate tissue of the pulmonaryveins (e.g., tissue at the ostium of one or more pulmonary veins) inorder to eliminate aberrant electrical signals that may be causingatrial fibrillation in the patient. Similarly, the cryotherapy ballooncatheter 100 can be routed to other treatment sites inside a patient andemployed to treat other conditions. During whatever treatment isperformed, a proximal end 106 of the cryotherapy balloon catheterremains outside the patient.

Between the proximal end 106 and the distal cryotherapy balloon 103 isan elongate member 109 (e.g., a catheter shaft) having various internallumens, including a supply lumen 112 for delivering a cryogenic fluid tothe distal cryotherapy balloon 103. The cryogenic fluid can be releasedinto a chamber 115 of the balloon 103, where it undergoes a phase changeto a gas. As a result of the phase change, heat is extracted from thesurroundings of the chamber 115, thereby cooling the surface 118 of theballoon 103 and body tissue 121 that is in contact with the surface 118(e.g., via the Joule-Thomson effect). The elongate member 109 alsoincludes an exhaust lumen 124 for exhausting the resulting gas from thechamber 115.

Pressure inside the chamber 115, P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(A), can affect thetemperature at which the cryogenic fluid changes state from a liquid toa gas (e.g., the boiling point). That is, with brief reference to FIG.2, the cryogenic fluid may have one boiling temperature at atmosphericpressure, T_(B) _(—) _(ATMOS); another, higher boiling temperature,T_(B) _(—) _(POS), at a higher pressure; and another, lower boilingtemperature, T_(B) _(—) _(NEG), at a lower pressure. By raising thepressure inside the chamber 115, the boiling temperature of thecryogenic fluid (and thus the temperature that can be achieved at thesurface 118) can be increased; by lowering the pressure inside thechamber 115, the boiling temperature can be decreased.

In some implementations, as will now be described in greater detail, acryotherapy procedure can include a first treatment phase in whichpressure inside the chamber 115 is higher than pressure inside thechamber 115 during the second treatment phase. In such implementations,pressure during the first treatment phase may be sufficient to inflatethe balloon 103 and establish firm contact between the balloon 103 andbody tissue 121 to be treated. A layer of ice can form between the bodytissue 121 and the balloon 103 during the first treatment phase,freezing the body tissue 121 to the balloon surface 118. In the secondtreatment phase, pressure can be reduced to lower the temperature (e.g.,to accelerate the cryotherapy procedure), and the layer of ice can causethe tissue 121 to remain adhered to the balloon surface 118.

During the first treatment phase (Phase A), as depicted in FIG. 1A, aninternal balloon pressure, P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(A), can be developed to avalue that is greater than ambient pressure at the proximal end 106 ofthe cryotherapy catheter 100. As used herein, ambient pressure can referto atmospheric pressure at the location of the patient being treatedwith the cryotherapy catheter (that is, atmospheric pressure given thealtitude of the patient and other pressure-determining characteristicsof the air immediately surrounding the patient). Thus, when the balloon103 is outside of a patient (and not subject to compressive forces otherthan atmospheric pressure and elastic forces of the balloon itself), theballoon 103 will generally inflate when the pressure inside the chamber115 is greater than the ambient pressure. Conversely, the balloon 103will generally not inflate when the pressure inside the chamber 115 isless than ambient pressure. Additional pressure (above ambient pressure)may be required to inflate the balloon 103 inside the patient. Forexample, additional pressure may be needed to overcome pressure exertedby tissue against which the balloon 103 is expanding (e.g., tissue ofthe patient's pulmonary vein), pressure exerted by blood flow againstthe balloon 103, or other pressures exerted by the patient's body or theballoon material itself.

Maintaining P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(A) greater than P_(EXTERNAL) during thefirst treatment phase can enable the balloon 103 to be inflated, suchthat its outer surface 118 maintains contact with adjacent body tissue121. To ensure good contact, P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(A) may be greater thanP_(EXTERNAL) by some margin, Δ₁. For example, in some implementations,P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(A) is maintained at approximately (e.g., within 5%,10%, or 25%) 5 PSI above P_(EXTERNAL) so that the balloon 103 exertssufficient force against the adjacent tissue 121. In otherimplementations, a greater margin is maintained, such as approximately(e.g., within 5%, 10%, or 25%) 10, 15, 20, or 25 PSI. As shown in FIG.1A, the relationship between pressures inside and outside the chamber115 may be expressed as P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(A)+Δ₁>=P_(EXTERNAL).

In some implementations, P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(A) is regulated bycontrolling either or both of the rates at which cryogenic fluid isintroduced into the chamber 115 (or correspondingly, the rate at whichthe cryogenic fluid is introduced into the supply lumen 112, RATE_(1A))and the rate at which exhaust is channeled from the chamber 115,RATE_(2A). The control may be accomplished, for example, by acontroller, one or more valves, and one or more pumps, as describedbelow with reference to FIG. 7. In some implementations, P_(INTERNAL)_(—) _(A) can be primarily controlled by regulating RATE_(2A). That is,RATE_(2A) may have a much greater affect on P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(A) thanRATE_(1A), and accordingly, RATE_(2A) may be precisely controlled with aclosed loop control system. RATE_(1A), on the other hand, may be lessprecisely controlled with an open-loop control system.

In some implementations, the first phase of cryotherapy that is depictedin FIG. 1A may be relatively short in duration relative to a secondphase, and may serve primarily to freeze the adjacent tissue 121 to thesurface 118 of the balloon 103. Once the adjacent tissue 121 is frozento the surface 118, contact between the tissue 121 and surface 118 canbe maintained by a layer of ice (element 127 in FIG. 1B) between thetissue 121 and surface 118, even if the pressure inside the chamber 115is reduced. An example second treatment phase is now described in moredetail with reference to FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1B depicts a second phase of cryotherapy during which the pressureinside the chamber 115, P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(B), may be reduced relativeto P_(EXTERNAL) (e.g., in order to lower the boiling temperature of thecryogenic fluid and the corresponding temperature, T_(B), on the surface118 of the balloon 103). In particular, as depicted, P_(INTERNAL) _(—)_(B) may be less than P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(A) by some threshold, Δ₂. Thatis, in some implementations, P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(B)+Δ₂<=P_(INTERNAL)_(—) _(A).

In some implementations, P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(B) is close to, but stillgreater than, ambient pressure (e.g., positive relative toP_(EXTERNAL)). In other implementations, P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(B) isnegative relative to P_(EXTERNAL). That is, in the latterimplementations, a partial vacuum may be maintained in the chamber 115.In any case, the lower pressure inside the chamber 115 during the secondtreatment phase, relative to the first treatment phase, results in alower temperature, T_(B), at the surface 118, than the temperature T_(A)at the surface 118 in the first treatment phase. The lower pressure inthe second treatment phase is graphically depicted by the partiallydeflated appearance of the balloon 103 in FIG. 1B.

Even though the balloon 103 may be partially deflated in the secondtreatment phase, contact between the surface 118 of the balloon 103 andadjacent tissue 121 can be maintained by the layer of ice 127 formedduring the first treatment phase. This contact can be maintained as longas the attractive force of the ice 127 is greater than any elastic forceof the balloon 103 and any vacuum force created by the pressure insidethe chamber 115, both of which may tend to draw the surface 118 of theballoon 103 away from the tissue 121. That is, although P_(INTERNAL)_(—) _(B) may be lower than P_(INTERNAL) _(—) _(A), P_(INTERNAL) _(—)_(B) may still need to be maintained above a level at which the balloonsurface is peeled away from the tissue 121 by a force that exceeds theattractive force of the ice 127.

FIG. 3 illustrates another view of the cryotherapy balloon 103,positioned to deliver cryotherapy to the body tissue 121. For purposesof example, the tissue 121 will be described and depicted ascorresponding to the ostium 302 of a pulmonary vein 306 in the heart ofa patient, but the reader will appreciate that the cryotherapy balloon103 can be employed to deliver cryotherapy to other body structures(e.g., arteries or veins; lymph nodes; other body lumens, cavities, orglands, etc.).

During an example cryotherapy treatment, the above-described process ofallowing cryogenic fluid to undergo a phase change inside the balloon103 causes Joule-Thomson cooling of the surface 118 of the balloon 103and corresponding ablation of the adjacent tissue in regions 121A and121B. As depicted in FIG. 3 and described above with reference to FIGS.1A and 1B, a layer of ice 127 may form between the balloon 103 and thetissue 121A and 121B. Ice may also form within the tissue itself, inregions 121A and 121B.

In some implementations, ablation (e.g., permanent and therapeuticalteration or remodeling of the tissue in regions 121A and 121B) occurswhen the tissue reaches a certain temperature. For example, tissue ofhuman pulmonary veins may begin to be ablated around −10° C. In someprocedures, it may be desirable to cool the tissue by some margin beyondthe temperature at which it begins to be ablated. More particularly, forexample, it may be desirable to cool the tissue to −20° C. Moreover, itmay be desirable to cool the entire region of tissue to the desiredtemperature—that is, the entire thickness of the pulmonary vein 306 inthis example. In order to cool the entire thickness of the pulmonaryvein at regions 121A and 121B, the surface of the balloon shouldgenerally be much cooler than the desired therapeutic temperature. Thus,for example, to cool the outer wall 308 of the pulmonary vein to −20°C., the temperature of the surface 118 of the balloon may be maintainedat −60° C. or lower, for some period of time.

Generally, the greater the temperature difference between the surface118 of the balloon 103 and the body tissue 121A and 121B being treated,the faster heat is extracted from the body tissue 121A and 121B. Thus,to facilitate as short a cryotherapy procedure as possible, it may bedesirable maintain the surface 118 at very low temperatures. This may beparticularly true in light of dynamics in play as the tissue 121A and121B is cooled. In particular, the tissue in regions 121A and 121B maycool at a non-uniform rate. For example, the tissue 121A and 121B maycool at one rate until portions freeze, at which point, heat may beconducted within the frozen portions differently (e.g., some tissue mayact as an insulator against further heat flow once it is frozen; othertissue may conduct heat better once frozen). Other dynamics may alsoaffect how the tissue 121A and 121B cools, such as, for example, heatreleased by metabolic processes inside the tissue 121A and 121B, or heatflow resulting from blood perfusion within the tissue 121A and 121B.Heat flow within the body tissue 121A and 121B is now described in moredetail with reference to FIGS. 4A-4I.

FIGS. 4A-4I illustrate various thermal profiles over time correspondingto different temperatures on the surface 118 of the balloon 103. Inparticular, FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate simulated isotherms for human bodytissue 5 mm in thickness at 50, 100, and 150 seconds after a −60° C.object (e.g., the cryotherapy balloon 103) is brought into contact withthe tissue. As depicted in these figures, a cold front moves deeper intothe tissue as time progresses. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, after 50seconds of being in contact with a −60° C. object, tissue 3 mm deep islikely to be at −10° C., and a −20° C. front is likely to havepenetrated about 2.4 mm; after 100 seconds, the −10° C. front is likelyto have penetrated about 4.1 mm, and the −20° C. front is likely to havepenetrated 3 mm; after 150 seconds, almost all of the 5 mm thick tissue(about 4.8 mm) is likely to be at −10° C., and the 20° C. front islikely to have penetrated 3.6 mm. Isotherms for other temperatures arealso shown for reference to depict the progressive cooling of the bodytissue 121 over time.

Turning briefly to the physiology of cryotherapy, different therapeuticresults may be achieved by different levels of cooling. For example,with respect to treating atrial fibrillation by remodeling tissue of thepulmonary veins (e.g., permanently altering the electrical structure orcharacteristics), it may be desirable to bring tissue over the fullthickness of the portion of the pulmonary vein being treated to about−20° C. or colder. A typical human pulmonary vein may have a thicknessin the range of 1-5 mm, so a physician may deliver cryotherapy to thepulmonary vein until it is expected that the entire thickness hasreached the desired temperature (e.g., −20° C.). The temperature of −20°C. is merely provided as an example. Some tissue may be remodeled, orpartially remodeled, at a higher temperature, such as −10° C., but thephysician may treat beyond the temperature at which remodeling begins inorder to increase the efficacy of the treatment. Other kinds of tissuemay be remodeled or otherwise treated at different temperatures.

At higher temperatures (e.g., −5° C., 0° C., 5° C., or some otherhypothermic value), a temporary, reversible change in the body tissuemay occur. For example, with respect to the aberrant electrical pathwaysthat can give rise to atrial fibrillation, tissue through which theelectrical pathways form can be chilled to a temperature that does notpermanently remodel the tissue but that temporarily disrupts theelectrical pathways. This chilling, which may be referred to ascryomapping, can be used to confirm that remodeling of the intendedtreatment site will be efficacious, without causing other adverse sideeffects (e.g., a conduction block in an undesirable location). Followingconfirmation (e.g., through the use of electrical probes and/orstimuli), the tissue can be permanently remodeled by being cooled tolower temperatures (e.g., −10° C., −20° C., or lower temperatures).

FIGS. 4D-4F illustrate simulated isotherms for human body tissue 5 mm inthickness at 50, 100, and 150 seconds after a −80° C. object (e.g., acryotherapy balloon) is brought into contact with the tissue. In thesefigures, the cold front moves through the tissue 121 at a faster ratethan the cold front moves in the implementation depicted in FIGS. 4A-4C.In particular, after 50 seconds of being in contact with a −80° C.object, tissue 3.7 mm deep is likely to be at −10° C., and a −20° C.front is likely to have penetrated about 3.1 mm; after 100 seconds, the−10° C. front is likely to have penetrated about 4.1 mm, and the −20° C.front is likely to have penetrated 4.2 mm; after 150 seconds, almost allof the 5 mm thick tissue (about 4.8 mm) is likely to be at −20° C. FIGS.4G-4I depict an even faster cooling rate that may result when thesurface 118 of the balloon 103 is at about −90° C. In particular, a −20°C. cold front may penetrate the tissue 121 to a depth of 3.5 mm, 4.5 mmand more than 5 mm after 50, 100, and 150 seconds respectively.

As can be seen from FIGS. 4A-4I, a cryotherapy procedure can beaccelerated by lowering the temperature at the surface 118 of theballoon 103. For a procedure in which it is desirable to cool tissue 5mm thick to a temperature of −20° C., comparison of FIGS. 4B and 4Hreveal differences in treatment time—in FIG. 4H, almost the entirethickness of the tissue is treated after 100 seconds, while in FIG. 4B,the tissue is treated only to about 60% of the desired depth. Additionaldata related to treatment times is presented in a slightly differentformat in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a bar graph depicting time (in seconds) that may be necessaryfor certain body tissue to be ablated to a depth of 5 mm, by acryotherapy device having a particular surface temperature. As depicted,a cryotherapy device having a surface temperature of −70° C. may requiremore than 250 seconds to ablate tissue to a depth of 5 mm. Incomparison, tissue may be ablated to a depth of 5 mm within 150-175seconds by a cryotherapy device having a surface temperature of −80° C.,and this time may be reduced to about 125 seconds when the cryotherapydevice has a temperature of about −90° C. Thus, as depicted in FIG. 5,time needed to ablate tissue to a particular therapeutic depth (e.g., 5mm) can be reduced by reducing the temperature of the device that is incontact with the tissue.

One way to reduce the temperature of the device that delivers thecryotherapy is to reduce the pressure inside the device, as is describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3. When the device is aninflatable cryotherapy balloon, the pressure can be reduced in a secondtreatment phase, after the tissue to be treated is frozen to the outsideof the balloon during a first treatment phase, as described above.

Various advantages may result from accelerating a cryotherapy procedureby reducing the temperature of the cryotherapy device, such as aballoon, used to deliver the cryotherapy. In general, for example, it isadvantageous to minimize procedure time for reasons of safety. Thelonger a procedure lasts, the greater risk there may be forcomplications, such as internal clotting, structural damage to tissue ororgans that are not directly treated but that may be affected by thetreatment device (e.g., vessels and heart structures through which acryotherapy catheter may pass in order to reach specific treatmentsites), physician fatigue, etc.

In the case of cryotherapy delivered by a balloon catheter and for thepurpose of treating atrial fibrillation, even small reductions intreatment time of a region of tissue may significantly reduce overalltreatment time for a procedure. For example, a cryotherapy procedure totreat atrial fibrillation may involve treatment of multiple pulmonaryveins (e.g., all four pulmonary veins that are typically present in ahuman patient), and each pulmonary vein may be treated multiple times(e.g., two times) to increase efficacy of the treatment. Accordingly,even a small improvement of treatment time of a single region of tissue,when multiplied by eight separate treatment cycles, may appreciablyreduce the overall treatment time required for the cryotherapyprocedure.

Cryotherapy procedures involving inflatable cryotherapy balloons may beparticularly advantageous relative to other methods of ablating tissue.For example, some cryotherapy devices enable physicians to first performcryomapping on target tissue to confirm that permanently ablating thetissue will bring about therapeutic results (e.g., reduce or eliminateaberrant electrical pathways) without causing undesirable collateraldamage (e.g., a conduction block). Other techniques may not permit suchconfirmation testing that is possible with cryotherapy techniques.Delivery of cryotherapy with an inflatable balloon can also beadvantageous, since a balloon may conform to multiple differently shapedor sized regions or vessels, and may deliver cryotherapy to an entirecircumferential region at one time.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method 600 of treatingbody tissue with the cryotherapy balloon catheter 100. As shown in oneimplementation, and with reference to the preceding figures, the method600 can include positioning (601) the cryotherapy balloon 103 at atreatment site inside a patient's body. For example, with reference to aprocedure to treat atrial fibrillation, a cryotherapy catheter can beintroduced to a patient's left atrium—and more particularly to theostium of one of the patient's pulmonary veins—by being introduced intothe patient's femoral artery, routed through the inferior vena cava,into the right atrium, through the transseptal wall, and into the leftatrium (above-referenced anatomic features not shown in the figures).

Once the balloon 103 is positioned (601), a first treatment phase of acryotherapy procedure can be performed (604). In particular, flow ofcryogenic fluid to and flow of exhaust from the chamber 115 of theballoon 103 (see, e.g., FIG. 1A) can be regulated (e.g., by acontroller, valves, and/or pumps, as described below with reference toFIG. 7) such that a first pressure inside the chamber 115 is reachedthat causes the balloon 103 to inflate and firmly impinge on tissue 121to be treated. Within the chamber 115, cryogenic fluid can be releasedand changed into a gas, resulting in Joule-Thomson cooling of thechamber 115, the surface 118 of the balloon, and the body tissue 121that is in contact with the surface. During the first treatment phase,the body tissue 121 can freeze to the surface 118 of the balloon.

Once the tissue 121 freezes to the surface 118 of the balloon 103, asecond phase of the cryotherapy procedure can be performed (607). Inparticular, flow of cryogenic fluid to and flow of exhaust from thechamber 115 of the balloon 103 (see, e.g., FIG. 1B) can be regulatedsuch that a second pressure inside the chamber 115 is reached, which islower than the first pressure. This second, lower pressure is possiblebecause of a layer of ice 127 between the tissue 121 and the surface 118of the balloon 103 that forms during the first treatment phase andadheres the tissue 121 to the surface 118 of the balloon 103. The lowerpressure can reduce the boiling point of the cryogenic fluid, resultingin a lower temperature at the surface 118 of the balloon 103 during thesecond treatment phase.

The second phase of the cryotherapy procedure can be maintained until itis determined (610) that the ablation is complete. In someimplementations, the time needed to ablate the tissue 121 is determined(610) based on average thickness of the tissue being treated, heat flowwithin the tissue 121 (e.g., as modeled and depicted in FIGS. 4A-4I),and temperature of the surface 118 of the balloon 103. For example, thesecond treatment phase may be maintained for about 125 seconds to treata pulmonary vein that is likely to be about 5 mm thick (e.g., thepulmonary vein of a large adult), when a pressure is reached inside thechamber 115 that is low enough to allow the temperature at the surface118 to reach −90° C.

Once an ablation cycle is determined (610) to be complete for aparticular region of tissue 121, the tissue 121 can be allowed to warmup (613). In particular, for example, flow of cryogenic fluid to anexhaust from the chamber 115 can be regulated (e.g., decreased) suchthat only a small amount of heat (if any) is extracted from the surface118 of the balloon, during which time, natural processes can warm thetissue 121 back up (e.g., blood perfusion, heat conducted from adjacenttissue that has not been cooled, heat released from metabolic processesin the cooled or adjacent tissue, etc.).

When the tissue is sufficiently warm, it may no longer adhere to thesurface 118 of the balloon 103. That is, the process of warming canresult in the layer of ice 127 melting. Once the ice 127 melts, theballoon 103 can be repositioned (601) at another site, and the processcan be repeated, if desired. In particular, for example, the balloon 103can be deflated (e.g., by stopping the flow of cryogenic fluid to thechamber 115 and briefly continuing the flow of exhaust from the chamber115) and steered (601) to another pulmonary vein, where the first andsecond phases of cryotherapy treatment can be repeated (604, 607).

Once cryotherapy treatment has been delivered to all desired sites(e.g., all four pulmonary veins, multiple times at each vein), thecryotherapy catheter 100 can be removed from the patient. That is, theballoon 103 can be deflated, and the cryotherapy catheter 100 can bewithdrawn back through the septal wall, right atrium, inferior venacava, and out the femoral artery. This path is merely exemplary, and thereader will appreciate that the cryotherapy catheter can be positionedat any desired treatment site, via any appropriate path.

Additional details of the example cryotherapy catheter 100 are nowdescribed with reference to FIG. 7. As described above, the cryotherapycatheter 100 includes an elongate member 109 that has an inflatableballoon 103 at a distal end 706. The balloon 103 has an internal chamber(not shown in FIG. 7, but shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and referred to inthis description as chamber 115) to which cryogenic fluid is deliveredto cool the internal chamber, the external surface 118 of the balloon103, and adjacent body tissue. A port device 702 is attached to theproximal end 106 of the elongate member 109. The port device 702provides connections to various external equipment, including acryogenic fluid source 730 and an exhaust pump 727.

The catheter's elongate member 109 has multiple internal lumens (notshown in FIG. 7). The lumens allow cryogenic fluid to be delivereddistally from the external cryogenic fluid source 730 to the internalchamber of the balloon 103. In addition, the internal lumens of theelongate member 109 allow exhaust resulting from delivery of cryogenicfluid to the internal chamber 115 of the balloon 103 to be deliveredproximally from the internal chamber 115 to the external exhaust pump727. During operation, there may be continuous circulation within theelongate member 109 of cryogenic fluid distally and exhaust proximally.

A controller 728 can regulate flow of cryogenic fluid to the internalchamber of the balloon 103 and flow of exhaust from the balloon. Inparticular, for example, the controller 728 can, in one implementationas shown, regulate a valve 729 that controls flow of the cryogenic fluidfrom the cryogenic fluid source 730. The cryogenic fluid source 730 maybe, for example, a pressured flask of cryogenic fluid. In otherimplementations (not shown), the controller controls a pump and/or pumpvalve combination to deliver cryogenic fluid to the internal chamber ofthe balloon. Similarly, the controller 728 can regulate a valve 731and/or vacuum pump 727 to regulate flow of exhaust from the internalchamber of the balloon.

By controlling both the rate at which cryogenic fluid is delivered tothe balloon 103 and the rate at which exhaust is extracted from theballoon 103, the controller 728 can develop and maintain a pressureinside the balloon 103 at a number of different values. For example,when cryogenic fluid is delivered at a very low rate to the balloon 103,and exhaust is similarly extracted at a very low rate, the balloon 103may be inflated, but very little heat (if any) may be extracted from theballoon 103 or from body tissue that is in contact with the balloon. Asanother example, when cryogenic fluid is delivered at a higher rate, agreater amount of heat can be extracted from the balloon 103 and frombody tissue that is in contact with the balloon. Varying the rate atwhich exhaust is extracted from the balloon 103 relative to the rate atwhich the cryogenic fluid is supplied to the balloon can control thepressure. In particular, for example, for a given rate at which thecryogenic fluid is supplied to the balloon, a greater rate at whichexhaust is extracted from the balloon 103 will generally result in lowerpressure inside the balloon, and a lower rate at which exhaust isextracted from the balloon 103 will generally result in greater pressureinside the balloon.

To precisely control pressures or flow rates, the controller 103 mayemploy either or both of open- or closed-loop control systems. Forexample, in some implementations, a rate at which cryogenic fluid (e.g.,the position of the valve 729) may be controlled with an open-loopcontrol system, and a rate at which exhaust is extracted from theballoon 103 (e.g., the position of the valve 731 or force exerted by thepump 727) may be controlled with a closed-loop control system. In otherimplementations, both rates may be controlled by closed-loop controlsystems. In a closed-loop control system, some feedback mechanism isprovided. For example, to control the rate at which exhaust is extractedfrom the balloon 103, the controller 728 may employ an exhaust flowdevice (not shown), a pressure sensor (not shown) inside the balloon 103or elsewhere in the system, or another feedback sensor. In addition, thecontroller 728 may employ an ambient pressure gauge 732 in one of itscontrol loops (e.g., to measure atmospheric pressure at the proximal end106 of the cryotherapy catheter (that is, the end that remains outsidethe patient)).

In some implementations, as mentioned above, pressure inside the balloon103 may be primarily controlled by controlling the rate at which exhaustis extracted from the balloon 103 (given the significant differencebetween the large volume of gas resulting from a corresponding smallervolume of cryogenic fluid being released into the balloon 103).Temperature inside the balloon 103, on the other hand, may depend oncontrol of both the flow of cryogenic fluid and the flow of exhaust.

The controller 728 itself can take many different forms. In someimplementations, the controller 728 is a dedicated electrical circuitemploying various sensors, logic elements, and actuators. In otherimplementations, the controller 728 is a computer-based system thatincludes a programmable element, such as a microcontroller ormicroprocessor, which can execute program instructions stored in acorresponding memory or memories. Such a computer-based system can takemany forms, may include many input and output devices, and may beintegrated with other system functions, such as the monitoring equipment742, a computer network, other devices that are typically employedduring a cryotherapy procedure, etc. For example, a singlecomputer-based system may include a processor that executes instructionsto provide the controller function, display imaging informationassociated with a cryotherapy procedure (e.g., from an imaging device);display pressure, temperature, and time information (e.g., elapsed timesince a given phase of treatment was started); and serve as an overallinterface to the cryotherapy catheter. In general, various types ofcontrollers are possible and contemplated, and any suitable controller728 can be employed.

The catheter 100 shown in FIG. 7 is an over-the-wire type catheter. Sucha catheter 100 uses a guidewire 712, extending from the distal end 706of the catheter 100. In some implementations, the guidewire 712 may bepre-positioned inside a patient's body. Once the guidewire 712 isproperly positioned, the balloon 103 (in a deflated state) and theelongate member 109 can be routed over the guidewire 712 to a treatmentsite. In some implementations, the guidewire 712 and balloon portion 103of the catheter 103 may be advanced together to a treatment site insidea patient's body, with the guidewire portion 712 leading the balloon 103by some distance (e.g., several inches). When the guidewire portion 712reaches the treatment site, the balloon 103 may then be advanced overthe guidewire 712 until it also reaches the treatment site. Otherimplementations are contemplated, such as steerable catheters that donot employ a guidewire.

The catheter 100 includes a manipulator 736, by which a medicalpractitioner may navigate the guidewire 712 and balloon 103 through apatient's body to a treatment site. In some implementations, release ofcryogenic fluid into the cooling chamber may inflate the balloon 103 toa shape similar to that shown in FIG. 7. In other implementations, apressure source 724 may be used to inflate the balloon 103 independentlyof the release of cryogenic fluid into the internal chamber 115 of theballoon 103. The pressure source 724 may also be used to inflate ananchor member on the end of the guidewire 712 (not shown).

The catheter 100 includes a connector 739 for connecting monitoringequipment 742. The monitoring equipment may be used, for example, tomonitor temperature or pressure at the distal end of the catheter 100.To aid in positioning the treatment member 103 of the catheter 100inside a patient's body, various marker bands 733 are also disposed atthe distal end 706 of the catheter 100. The marker bands 733 may beopaque when the catheter is viewed by x-ray or other imaging techniques.

In some implementations, the balloon 103, and a corresponding separateinternal cooling chamber, if present (e.g., balloon 821, shown in FIG.8A), may be formed from a polymer including, but not limited to,polyolefin copolymer, polyester, polyethylene teraphthalate,polyethylene, polyether-block-amide, polyamide (e.g., nylon), polyimide,latex, or urethane. For example, certain implementations of the balloon103 comprise PEBAX® 7033 material (70D poly ether amide block). Theballoon 103 may be made by blow-molding a polymer extrusion into thedesired shape. In some implementations, the balloon 103 may beconstructed to expand to a desired shape when pressurized withoutelastically deforming substantially beyond the desired shape.

A number of ancillary processes may be used to affect the materialproperties of the balloon 103. For example, the polymer extrusion may beexposed to gamma radiation which can alter the polymer infrastructure toprovide uniform expansion during blow molding and additional burststrength when in use. In addition, the molded balloon 103 may be exposedto a low temperature plasma field which can alter the surface propertiesto provide enhanced adhesion characteristics. Those skilled in the artwill recognize that other materials and manufacturing processes may beused to provide balloon 103 (and any internal balloon(s)) suitable foruse with the catheter.

FIG. 8A shows a longitudinal cross-section of the example cryotherapyballoon 103 and an example elongate member 109 through which cryogenicfluid and exhaust may be cycled to and from the internal chamber 115 ofthe cryotherapy balloon 103. As shown in FIG. 8A, cryogenic fluid may bedelivered from an external source (e.g., 730 in FIG. 7) to a coolingchamber 115 internal to the balloon 103, via a coolant delivery lumen112. The coolant may be released into the cooling chamber 115 from anopening at the end of the delivery lumen 112, or the coolant may bereleased through a cryotherapy device 819 (see FIG. 8C) disposed at theend of the delivery lumen 112. In some implementations, the coolingdevice 819 includes a coiled extension 835 having a number of apertures837 from which pressurized liquid coolant can escape and change state toa gas. In some implementations, the exhaust lumen 124 may be definedgenerally by the outer layer of the elongate shaft 109, as shown. Inother implementations, the catheter may include one or more dedicatedexhaust lumen structures (not shown) that are defined independently ofthe elongate member 109.

In some implementations, as described above, the coolant undergoes aphase change within the cooling chamber 115, cooling the chamber 115 viathe Joule-Thomson effect, as well as cooling the external surface 118 ofthe outermost balloon 103 and a patient's body tissue that is adjacentto the external surface 118 of the outer balloon. In otherimplementations, cryogenic fluid is applied to (e.g., sprayed against)the walls of the cooling chamber, where it vaporizes, directly coolingthe chamber wall and the external surface 118. The cryogenic fluid, orgas if the fluid has undergone a phase change, is then exhausted throughan exhaust lumen 124 to a reservoir, pump, or vacuum source external tothe catheter (e.g., 727 in FIG. 7). In some implementations, there is acontinuous cycle of cryogenic fluid to the cooling chamber 115 via thedelivery lumen 112 and exhaust from the cooling chamber 115 via theexhaust lumen 124.

The coolant that is cycled into the balloon 115 is one that will providethe appropriate heat transfer characteristics consistent with the goalsof treatment. In some implementations, liquid N₂O may be used as a cryocoolant. When liquid N₂O is used, it may be transported to the coolingchamber 115 in the liquid phase where it changes to a gas at the end ofthe coolant delivery lumen 112, or from the apertures 837 of a coolingdevice 819. Other implementations may use Freon, Argon gas, and CO₂ gas,or other agents, as coolants. Still other implementations may use liquidcoolant, and the temperature or pressure of the liquid coolant may becontrolled in a manner appropriate to achieve the desired therapeuticeffect.

In some implementations, as shown, a second balloon 821 is providedwithin the outer balloon 103 to isolate the cryogenic fluid within thecooling chamber 115. In these implementations, the outer balloon 103forms a safety chamber that prevents coolant from escaping if thecooling chamber 115 balloon 821 bursts. A separate vacuum lumen (notshown) may be provided to evacuate any gas or liquid that escapes fromthe internal cooling chamber 115. In operation, the outer and innerballoons 103 and 821 may expand and deflate together. In someimplementations, release of coolant inflates the balloons 103 and 821.In some implementations, the balloons 103 and 821 are first inflated bythe injection of an inflation fluid or gas (e.g., a saline solution oran inert gas), after which the coolant may be introduced to the coolingchamber 115.

FIG. 8B shows a radial cross-section along the line A-A that is shown inFIG. 8A. As shown in FIG. 8B, the coolant delivery lumen 112 is adjacentto the guidewire lumen 813, and the guidewire lumen 813 is shown to besubstantially coaxial with the exhaust lumen 124, which corresponds tothe overall shaft (e.g., elongate member 109) of the catheter. In someimplementations, lumens may have other arrangements, and more or fewerlumens may be included in the catheter. For example, the coolantdelivery lumen 112 may be disposed coaxially around the guidewire lumen813; the guidewire lumen 813 may be omitted in a steerable catheterdesign; lumens for steering members may be provided; one or more vacuumlumens may be included; one or more exhaust lumens may be included thatare independent of the outer layer of the catheter shaft 109; additionallumens may be provided for inflating or deflating the balloons 103 or831 or for inflating or deflating other balloons not shown in FIG. 8A;and additional lumens may be provided to control an anchor member thatmay be disposed on a guidewire near the distal portion of the balloon103.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method 900 ofcontrolling pressure and temperature in the balloon 103. In someimplementations, the method 900 is implemented by the controller 728shown in FIG. 7. As shown in one implementation, the method 900 caninclude various decision elements that determine whether the balloon 103is to be inflated (901) or deflated (910), whether a first treatmentphase is to be performed (904) or whether a second treatment phase is tobe performed (907). The decision elements can, in some implementations,be evaluated based on user input received by the controller 728. Forexample, during a cryotherapy procedure, a physician may provide inputto the controller 728 (e.g., through a command entered through a userinterface of a computer device, through manual actuation of a switch,etc.) to inflate the balloon or initiate a particular phase oftreatment.

When it is determined (901) that the balloon is to be inflated, thecontroller 728 can actuate (913) appropriate valves (e.g., valves 729and 731) to deliver a small amount cryogenic fluid to the balloon 103 inorder to develop a positive first pressure. In some implementations, aburst of cryogenic fluid is delivered to the balloon 103 to develop thepositive first pressure. In other implementations, a low rate ofcontinuous flow of cryogenic fluid is established and an appropriatecorresponding low rate of exhaust extraction is also established throughcontrol of the valves 729 and 731, or the valve 729 and the pump 727. Toestablish an appropriate flow rate and pressure, the controller 728 mayemploy the ambient pressure gauge 732, a pressure sensor (not shown inthe figures) inside or fluidly coupled to the balloon 103, a balloonposition sensor (e.g., imaging tools that detect the outer surface ofthe balloon 103), etc.

When it is determined (904) that a first phase of treatment is to beinitiated, the controller 728 can actuate (916) the valves 729 and 731to deliver a relatively large flow rate of cryogenic fluid to theballoon (e.g., relative to flow necessary to merely keep the balloon 103inflated), and to extract a correspondingly large amount of exhaust fromthe balloon 103. The rates of delivery and extraction can be controlledsuch that a positive second pressure is developed and maintained insidethe balloon. That is, relative to ambient pressure and other compressiveforces that may exist at the balloon (e.g., from elastic forces of theballoon itself or from compressive forces exerted by tissue of the bodylumen or cavity being treated), a positive pressure inside the balloon103 may be developed, such that the balloon 103 is inflated and firmlyin contact with adjacent body tissue. With such firm contact, high flowrate of cryogenic fluid to the balloon, and the resulting lowtemperature caused by the Joule-Thomson expansion of the cryogenic fluidto a gas inside the balloon, tissue that is adjacent to the balloon 103can freeze to the surface of the balloon 103.

When it is determined (907) that a second phase of treatment is to beinitiated, the controller 728 can actuate (919) the valves 729 and 731to deliver a similar rate of cryogenic fluid to the balloon that wasdelivered in the first phase (916), but the rate at which exhaust isextracted can be slightly increased, to develop a third pressure that islower than the second pressure. That is, the valve 731 can be openedslightly, or the force exerted by the vacuum pump 727 can be increasedslightly, resulting in a lower pressure inside the balloon. As describedabove, this lower pressure can result in a lower boiling temperature ofthe cryogenic fluid inside the balloon 103 and a corresponding lowertemperature on the surface of the balloon 103.

When it is determined (910) that the balloon is to be deflated, thecontroller 728 can actuate (922) the valves such that flow of cryogenicfluid to the balloon 103 is stopped, and flow of exhaust from theballoon 103 is briefly continued. Continuation of the flow of exhaust(e.g., by closing the valve 731 after the valve 729), can create avacuum inside the balloon 103 that can draw the material of the balloon103 radially inward, toward a central axis of the balloon 103. After theballoon is deflated, it can be removed from the patient in anyappropriate manner.

The above description makes reference to controlling valves 729 and 731by way of example, but the reader will appreciate that various othermethods of controlling flow to and from the balloon 103 can be employed,including, for example, controlling the pump 727, or controlling otherpumps or valves that are not shown in the figures but that may beincluded in cryotherapy catheter systems.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this document. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of performing a cryotherapy procedure,the method comprising: introducing a cryotherapy balloon catheter at atreatment site inside a patient's body; during a first phase of acryotherapy procedure, delivering cryogenic fluid into and exhaustingcryogenic fluid from a distal balloon portion of the cryotherapy ballooncatheter, and regulating the flow of cryogenic fluid into and exhaustfrom the distal balloon portion to cause a) a first pressure to bereached inside the distal balloon portion that is sufficiently high tocause an outer wall of the distal balloon portion to be pressed againstbody tissue at the treatment site, and b) a first temperature to bereached inside the distal balloon portion that is sufficiently low tocause the body tissue to freeze to the outer wall; and during a secondphase of the cryotherapy procedure, delivering cryogenic fluid into andexhausting cryogenic fluid from the distal balloon, and regulating theflow of cryogenic fluid into and exhaust from the distal balloon portionto reduce pressure inside the distal balloon portion to a secondpressure that is less than the first pressure, causing a temperatureinside the distal portion to reach a second temperature that is belowthe first temperature.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cryotherapyballoon catheter is configured to enable Joule-Thomson cooling insidethe distal balloon portion when cryogenic fluid is delivered to thedistal balloon portion and resulting gas is exhausted from the distalballoon portion.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pressure isapproximately five pounds per square inch (PSI) above ambient pressure,and wherein ambient pressure comprises atmospheric air pressure adjacentto the patient's body.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstpressure is approximately 5-25 pounds per square inch (PSI) aboveambient pressure, and wherein ambient pressure comprises atmospheric airpressure adjacent to the patient's body.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the first temperature is less than 0° C.
 6. The method of claim5, wherein the second temperature is between −89° C. and −91° C.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the second pressure is approximately equal toambient pressure, and wherein ambient pressure comprises atmospheric airpressure adjacent to the patient's body.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the second pressure is negative relative to ambient pressure,and wherein ambient pressure comprises atmospheric air pressure adjacentto the patient's body.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondpressure is maintained at a value that is sufficient to prevent theouter wall from being peeled away from the body tissue by vacuum forcesinside the distal balloon portion or by elastic forces of material thatmakes up the distal balloon portion.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereinregulating the flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from the distalballoon portion comprises regulating the flows such that heat isextracted from the body tissue at a greater rate during the second phasethan a rate at which heat is extracted from the body tissue during thefirst phase.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising inflating thedistal balloon portion.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprisingregulating, after the second phase, the flow of cryogenic fluid to andexhaust from the distal balloon portion such that minimal heat isextracted from the body tissue, allowing the body tissue to warm up. 13.The method of claim 12, further comprising deflating the distal balloonportion, introducing the cryotherapy balloon catheter to a secondtreatment site, and regulating the flow of cryogenic fluid to andexhaust from the distal balloon portion to repeat the first and secondphases of the cryotherapy procedure at the second treatment site. 14.The method of claim 1, wherein regulating flow of cryogenic fluid to andexhaust from the distal balloon portion comprises regulating flow ofliquid nitrous oxide to the distal balloon portion and flow of gaseousnitrous oxide from the distal balloon portion.
 15. A cryotherapycatheter comprising: an elongate member and an inflatable balloon at adistal end of the elongate member, the elongate member having lumensformed therein to supply cryogenic fluid to a chamber of the balloon andto channel exhaust from the balloon chamber; and a controller programmedto control a first rate at which the cryogenic fluid is supplied to theballoon chamber and a second rate at which exhaust is channeled from theballoon chamber, wherein the controller is programmed to a) delivercryogenic fluid into the balloon and exhaust fluid from the balloon toinflate the balloon by developing, during a first phase of a cryotherapyprocedure, a first pressure inside the balloon chamber at a value thatis greater than a second pressure outside and adjacent to a proximal endof the elongate member, and b) deliver cryogenic fluid into the balloonand exhaust fluid from the balloon to develop, during a second phase ofthe cryotherapy procedure, the first pressure at a value that is lessthan the second pressure.
 16. The cryotherapy catheter of claim 15,wherein the second pressure is an ambient pressure, wherein the ambientpressure comprises atmospheric air pressure adjacent to the patient'sbody.
 17. The cryotherapy catheter of claim 15, wherein the controlleris programmed to supply cryogenic fluid to the balloon chamber such thatthe cryogenic fluid boils at a first temperature in an environment ofthe first pressure, and boils at a second temperature, which is lowerthan the first temperature, at pressures that are less than the secondpressure.
 18. The cryotherapy catheter of claim 15, wherein the secondpressure is atmospheric air pressure adjacent to the patient's body,wherein the controller is programmed to develop, during the secondphase, the first pressure at a value that is negative relative to thesecond pressure.
 19. A cryotherapy catheter comprising: an elongatemember and an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the elongate member,the elongate member having lumens formed therein to supply cryogenicfluid to a chamber of the balloon and to channel exhaust from theballoon chamber; and a controller programmed to control a first rate atwhich the cryogenic fluid is supplied to the balloon chamber and asecond rate at which exhaust is channeled from the balloon chamber,wherein the controller is programmed to a) deliver cryogenic fluid intothe balloon and exhaust fluid from the balloon to inflate the balloon bydeveloping, during a first phase of a cryotherapy procedure, a firstpressure inside the balloon chamber at a value that is greater than anambient pressure outside a patient's body and adjacent to a proximal endof the elongate member, and b) deliver cryogenic fluid into the balloonand exhaust fluid from the balloon to develop, during a second phase ofthe cryotherapy procedure, a second pressure inside the balloon chamberat a value that is negative relative to the ambient pressure.
 20. Thecryotherapy catheter of claim 19, wherein the inflatable balloon isconfigured to be disposed inside a lumen or body cavity of a humanpatient to deliver cryotherapy to tissue of the lumen or body cavity.